Mechanical connecting device for a system that is used to attach elements to a structure

ABSTRACT

A system for fastening an element, particularly made of fragile material such as glass, to a bearing structure or a framework at least at one point. At least at one fastening point, the system includes a mechanical connection device for fixing the element to a framework or bearing structure or connecting to an adjacent similar element. At least one arm at a first end is connected to a fastener mechanically connected to the element, and at a second end is connected to a joining piece. The joining piece includes a tubular envelope that contains a mechanism for adjusting degrees of freedom of the fixing or of the connection. A wall including at least one fixed or opening element can be fixed to a structure or a framework by such a mechanical connection device.

The present invention relates to a system for fastening elements such aspanels, particularly made of fragile material especially glass, to astructure such as an element of a carcass or to a framework such asposts or tensioned cables, at least at one point.

Among the applications of the present invention are the production ofglazed partitions, walls or facades made up of glass elements fixed tothe surrounding carcass elements (ceiling, floor, walls) and possiblyjoined together. These partitions, walls or facades may be made up offixed or moving (doors, windows, ventilation hatches) glass elements.Conventionally, the fixtures for these elements act on drillings passingthrough the elements and comprise two pieces clamped against each of thefaces of the elements.

To allow the relative positions of the elements and of the structure tobe adjusted, the drillings are generally larger in size than the membersinserted therein, so as to allow these members to be accommodated in abroad range, then the position of the members is fixed when the piecesare tightened, these pieces also serving to hide the gap between themembers and the edges of the holes.

While admittedly these fixing solutions are effective, the presence ofthe opaque clamping pieces, which are generally metal plates, goesagainst the desire for transparency which caused glass to be chosen as amaterial from which to make the wall elements.

Fixing systems which favor transparency are known in the production ofglazed facades made up of structural glazing (SG). The glazing thereinis equipped with fastener or attachment devices which generally have, asa common element, an attachment shank projecting on the one side, atright angles or roughly at right angles to the glass panel, mounted onthe panel via connecting means of any type, particularly pendular, ofthe ball-joint type, using bolts, etc. Advantageously, the connectionmeans is such that the other side of the panel on the opposite side tothe shank has no element protruding from the facade.

To allow glass panels, the size of which may be considerable, to bemounted accurately, the fastener systems generally comprise adjustingdevices situated at the fasteners themselves, and which therefore remainvisible. While that is not generally detrimental to the estheticappearance of a large glazed assembly, it may become so in the case ofsmaller glazed elements such as glazed partitions.

The applicant company has looked for means of mechanical connectionbetween an element and a support structure or a framework with theobjective of such means allowing the elements made of glass or someother fragile material to be correctly positioned, and in particular toremain in their plane of inertia without introducing stresses associatedwith relative movements due to possible differences in thermalexpansion, so that the material maintains all of its mechanicalproperties while at the same time best preserving the esthetic look ofthe fixing so as to make it applicable particularly to the production ofsmall glazed volumes.

To this end, there is proposed, according to the invention, a device formechanical connection between fastener and framework or structure whichis able to form a break in the transmission of forces and which allowsthe fixing to have a position that is fixed at a number of degrees offreedom that is chosen particularly according to the position of thefastener because the stresses at the upper points and at the lowerpoints of the system are not the same.

This mechanical connection device allows fine control over the relativemovements of a joinery or facade assembly comprising glass elements(particularly monolithic or laminated glass, multiple glazing at leastone panel of which may itself be laminated, etc.) or elements made ofsome other fragile material particularly ceramic, which in situ aresubjected to high forces, whether these be elements of essentially flatshape such as panes or panels, or elements with some volume such asbeams or posts.

The subject of the present invention is, first of all, a mechanicalconnection device for fixing an element, particularly made of fragilematerial such as glass, to a framework or bearing structure orconnecting to an adjacent similar element, comprising at least one armwith a first end connected to a fastener connected to the element, and asecond end connected to a joining piece, said joining piece comprising atubular envelope which contains a mechanism for adjusting the degrees offreedom of the fixing or of the connection.

The device according to the invention decouples the functions ofconnection to the element and adjustment of the position thereof byrelegating the adjustment mechanism to inside a joining piece which isoffset with respect to the fastener. For this, the joining piece has atubular envelope or sheath which shields the adjusting mechanism fromview. The sheath may adopt very diverse shapes in order to conform toall architectural choices, and the term “tubular” here denotes a volumeof any cross section (circular, elliptical or generally curved, but alsosquare, rectangular or generally polygonal).

According to a particular and advantageous embodiment, the first end ofthe arm hides at least part of the fastener. In particular, the fastenermay be housed in the body of the arm through the first end of the arm.

In particular, if the fastener has a threaded portion, the body of thearm may comprise a tapped portion which accommodates the threadedportion of the fastener. The tapped portion may consist of a tappedspacer piece, fixed to the body of the arm by screwing, particularly bymeans of a screw inserted into the spacer piece at the opposite end tothe fastener; this system allows easy assembly and disassembly of theconnection device and provides adaptability to suit fasteners ofdifferent diameters simply by interchanging the spacer piece.

The first end of the arm may also contain a fixing mechanism that worksby mechanical engagement of the clip type, able to collaborate with theexterior surface of the fastener or with a special-purpose body such asa bushing mounted on any fastener, possibly threaded.

The first end of the arm may also have an interior surface able toconstitute a flat bearing surface for part of the fastener connected tothe element. This arrangement makes it possible to provide a more rigidconnection and allows forces to be transmitted by the fastener over awider area than that afforded by the connecting shank. This flat bearingsurface may well be hidden, for example if it is provided inside thebody of the arm.

Advantageously, the first end of the arm may be disengaged to come intocontact with the element, if appropriate via an interface material.Thus, the arm delimits, with the surface of the element, a space whichin particular allows a portion or all of the fastener to be hidden.Furthermore, the arm affords an additional flat bearing surface, thistime for bearing on the element directly, and this contributes to therigidity of the connection and to the reaction of the forces in thedirection of the arm.

As a preference, the adjusting mechanism is designed to allow, once thedevice has been mounted, the second end of the arm to be moved in termsof translation or in terms of rotation along its axis or perpendicularto its axis, within fixed limits, with the possibility of restricting,extending so far as to eliminate, one degree of freedom or both degreesof freedom of said movement, at the same time as definitive adjustmentof the position of said fastener along the corresponding axis isprovided if this or these degrees of freedom is or are eliminated.

This adjusting mechanism may be incorporated into the connection betweenthe second end of the arm and the joining piece. In particular, thesecond end of the arm may be engaged in a cavity in the joining piece,or vice versa.

According to a particular embodiment, the second end of the arm has anexternally threaded portion and the cavity of the joining piece istapped to allow the position of the second end to be adjusted along itsaxis by screwing.

According to another particular embodiment, the cavity is of a shapedesigned to allow the second end, which may be externally threaded, toslide along its axis.

According to another particular embodiment, the cavity is of a suitableshape to allow the second end of the arm some play perpendicular to itsaxis, in particular in translation or in rotation, and the adjustingmechanism may comprise at least one adjustable stop designed to limitthe magnitude of this play. In particular, the stop may be formed by thehead of a screw-runner, the threaded shank of which collaborates with atapped hole made in the body of the second end of the arm. Furthermore,the second end of the arm may be in connection with the joining piecevia a pin which acts as a pivot pin.

As an alternative, the adjusting mechanism comprises a means able togive the joining piece a degree of freedom in rotation about an axisperpendicular to the axis of the second end of the arm. In particular,this means may consist of an elastic ring arranged in the joining pieceso that it is coaxial with the second end of the arm.

The joining piece may be formed of at least two assembled parts,possibly able to move or immobilized with respect to one another.

For connection to the structure, to the framework or to at least oneelement thereof, a connection piece for connecting to the framework orthe bearing structure is advantageously mounted on the tubular envelopeor the arm or arms. In particular, this connection piece may comprise aconnecting part for connecting to a tube, a cable or a stiffener, saidconnecting part in particular being able to slide along the tube, thecable or the stiffener.

The connection device may comprise a number of arms each having a firstend connected to a fastener mechanically connected to an element and asecond end connected to one and the same joining piece.

The device may also comprise a connecting part for connecting to astructure, said connecting part incorporating a pivot pin about whichthe element can pivot with respect to the structure. In this case, it ispreferable for the mechanical connection device to comprise at leastthree arms the first ends of which are not aligned, so as not toencourage torsional moments in the element.

The present invention also relates to a wall comprising at least onefixed or opening element mounted on a structure or a framework by meansof a mechanical connection device as defined hereinabove.

This wall may advantageously be formed of elements connected at theperiphery to the structure or to adjacent elements, by means of at leastone gasket of predetermined size filling the space between an elementand the structure or between an element and another adjacent element, ifnecessary of uniform size between all the elements, for example by meansof a pre-extruded gasket, all the elements being suitably aligned byvirtue of the adjusting system of the connection device.

As a preference, the elements are provided with fasteners mechanicallyconnected to the elements, although connections by bonding are alsoconceivable. The fastener is advantageously connected in the thicknessof the material of the element either in just part of the thicknesswithin a blind hole or with all of the thickness in a through-hole. Inboth instances the invention allows discrete and strong mounting.

To better illustrate the subject of the present invention, someembodiments thereof depicted in the appended drawings will now bedescribed by way of purely illustrative and nonlimiting examples.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partial diagrammatic view of a glazed partition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a connection device depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is, on a larger scale, a part view in cross section on III-III ofa glazed element of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a part view in cross section on IV-IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the attachment of a glassdoor; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a connection device.

In order to make these figures easier to understand, the variouselements depicted are not strictly to scale.

FIGS. 1 and 6 depict a vertical partition 1 made of glazed elements orwindows 2 mounted between an upper level 3 and a lower level 4 of thecarcass. For this, the windows 2 are equipped near each of their cornerswith fasteners 5 which collaborate with connection devices 6 forconnection to a framework 7 here made of metal cables stretched betweenthe upper 3 and lower 4 levels. A stiffening system or spine, notdepicted, may be installed behind the framework to withstand the frontalloadings transmitted by the glazing to the framework.

In a common way, it is desirable for the fastener in position (A) toconstitute a fixed point of the glazing and therefore be positioned veryprecisely during mounting without any degrees of freedom. For thepurposes of mounting, the connection of the fastener at position (B)with the structure is preferably with a possibility of adjustment alonga horizontal axis contained in the plane of the glazing, and theconnection of the fasteners at positions (C) and (D) with the structureis preferably with a possibility of adjustment also along a horizontalaxis contained in the plane of the glazing and also along a verticalaxis contained in the plane of the glazing.

The device according to the invention which allows these adjustments isvisible in the perspective view of FIG. 2, of a connection device forthe connection of two adjacent elements between a position (B) and aposition (A).

The device is essentially made up of two arms 8A and 8B, essentially inthe shape of an L and collaborating on the one hand at a first end 9respectively with the fasteners 5A and 5B and, on the other hand, at asecond end 10 with a joining piece 11. This joining piece is gripped bya ring 12 which has a tubular part 13 arranged vertically for connectionto the framework of cables 7. The cables 7 may just as easily bearranged behind the connection device 6 as depicted in the figure asbetween the connection device 6 and the glazing 2.

The arms 8 intercept the fasteners 5 of the glazings 2 in a directionwhich is transversal, generally normal, to the planes of the glazing 2,thus allowing very discrete mounting. The mechanisms for adjusting thefixing positions (A) and (B) are incorporated inside the joining piece11 and are themselves invisible from the outside of the system.

The details of the device are visible in FIG. 3 which is a view insection on III-III of FIG. 2.

This sectioned view schematically shows the structure of the fasteners5, which are preferably expanding metal fasteners mechanically connectedto a blind hole 14 with an undercut. Such fasteners are known inparticular from documents EP 595 062 and EP 647 760. If appropriate, aninterface material is arranged between the jaws of the fastener 5 andthe wall of the milled hole 14. The fastener 5 is screwed to the glazing2 by means of a nut 15 with the interposition of a washer 16.

As an alternative, the fastener 5 may be inserted into a through-hole,or may even be bonded in.

The part of the fastener 5 which serves for connection to the structureadvantageously consists of a threaded shank 17 projecting at rightangles to the surface of the glass 2.

The arms 8 of the connection device are preferably made of metal,particularly steel. The first end 9 of the arm 8 contains a tappedannular spacer piece 18 which accommodates the threaded shank 17. On itsface situated on the same side as the glazing 2, the spacer piece 18bears flat against the nut 15. On the opposite side to the face 19, thespacer piece 18 may bear flat against a shoulder 20 made inside the arm8. The spacer piece 18 is clamped in the arm 8 by means of a screw 21inserted in the tapping via a hole 22 made in the arm at the elbow 23towards the first end 9. This flat bearing system allows the thread onthe rod to be relieved when forces are transmitted. During mounting, theclamping operation has the effect of bringing the first end 9 of the armto bear against the surface of the glazing 2, if necessary via aninterface material 24, such as a silicone washer. This material may beplaced in a groove made in the frontal surface of the spacer piece orthe end of the arm, and held there as a tight fit or by a connection ofthe clip type. The fact that the end of the arm bears against theglazing 2 allows the fastener to be completely hidden and causes the armto contribute to the transmission of forces and relieves the mechanicalfastener.

The spacer piece system makes it possible, using the same type of arm,to tailor the device to suit fasteners of different types, that is tosay having a connection shank that may or may not be threaded, or withdifferent diameters, simply by replacing the spacer piece with anotherwith an appropriate tapping and/or incorporating another system ofconnection to the shank, particularly by clipping.

As shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 6, at its second end 10A, thearm 8A, has an external screw thread. The joining piece 11 has a tappedportion 25 which collaborates with the threaded end 10A and which isfree to turn inside the ring 12. This screw connection allows theposition of the fastener 5A to be fixed precisely and definitively in ahorizontal direction along the axis of the arm at the second end 10A.

The position of the fastener 5A, which serves as a fixed point in theglazing system, can be adjusted in terms of height at the connectionbetween the part 13 and the cable 7, particularly by virtue of anadjustable tightening means of the nut type.

As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2, at its second end 10B, the arm 8Bhas an unthreaded exterior surface. The joining piece 11 has a portion26 screwed into the ring 12 and having a bore of a suitable shape thatit can accommodate said end portion with axial sliding. Advantageously,the axial sliding is permitted by flat contact surfaces (yokes) betweenthe second end 10B and the portion 26 parallel to the direction oftranslation. This connection in axial sliding makes it possible tomanage the desired degree of freedom at the position of the fastener 5Bin horizontal translation along the axis of the arm at the second end10B.

The possibility of adjustment in the vertical direction is afforded by apin 27 inserted horizontally into the joining piece portion 26 and whichpasses through the end 10B. For that, the end 10B is provided with aslot 28 which is wider than the diameter of the pin, so as to preservethe mobility in sliding.

Other details are visible in FIG. 4 which is a sectioned view of FIG. 2on IV-IV.

It can be seen that the joining piece portion 26 has a recess 29 whichdefines vertical play for the arm portion 8B near the end 10B which isfree to turn about the axis of the pin 27. The magnitude of thisclearance may be determined by an adjustable stop consisting of a screwrunner 30 which passes through the body of the joining piece via avertical hole 31. Once mounted, the glazing 2 is subject to the actionof its self-weight and the arm 8B spontaneously comes into abutmentagainst the head of the screw runner 30, and the possibility of turningis barred by the force of gravity. Adjusting the screw-runner thereforemakes it possible to determine precisely the vertical position of thefastener 5B.

To constitute the connection of the fasteners 5C and 5D to the structurewith two degrees of freedom in orthogonal translation, all that isrequired is to dispense with the screw-runners 30 forming stops, thusmaintaining the possibility of vertical sliding of the end portions 9 ofthe arms 8.

This degree of freedom in rotation of the arms 8 about a horizontal axismay also be allowed by measures taken on the joining piece only,particularly through the fact that the two portions 25 and 26 of thejoining piece 11 are separated by an annular ring of elastic materialarranged coaxially with the holes in said portions. The joining pieceportions 25 and 26 may be secured by virtue of the outer ring 12 forminga tubular envelope, the joining piece portion 26 also being surroundedby an elastic sleeve which allows limited vertical mobility.

A collar 32 is associated with the ring 12 and on this collar isprovided the tubular part 13 for the connection to the vertical cable 7,particularly allowing the cable to slide in the tubular part.

The tubular part 13 may also be equipped with means of connection to astiffener, particularly made of glass, behind the cable 7, with thepossibility of sliding along the axis of the stiffener. Such a type ofrelationship between a connection device and a stiffener is described inEP 887 484.

The system which has just been described allows the mounting of elementssuch as glazing with very fine positioning, in particular allowingvertical and horizontal alignment with perfect uniformity, thus allowingthe use of prefabricated extruded gaskets in order to achieve a durableseal between two adjacent elements. By comparison with the customarytechnique which consists in applying a jointing compound between themounted elements, which is not always able to obtain perfect seals, thesolution using prefabricated gaskets allows the esthetic dimension inproducing the glazed assembly to be taken to new heights.

FIG. 5 depicts another embodiment of the invention which consists of adevice for securing a glass door.

This device 33 is essentially made up of:

-   -   three arms 34, 35, 36 each having an end connected to a spot        fastener 37 mechanically connected to the door panel 38 and        another end connected to a joining piece 39 included in a        tubular envelope 40,    -   and a shaft 41 in pivoting connection with a carcass element 42        on the one hand and connected to the joining piece 39 or to the        tubular envelope 40 on the other.

The three fasteners 37 are arranged on the door panel 38 at three pointswhich are not aligned so as to avoid having a torsional moment in theglass. In the alternative form depicted, the two arms 34 and 35 areelbowed as in the previous embodiment, while the arm 36 is straight.

The shaft 41 is arranged in the plane of the door panel by virtue of anappropriate cut-out therein, which gives the door a double openingaction. If the pivot were installed outside of the plane of the panel,the door would have a single opening action.

The pivot system is suited to the fixing of opening glazing withpivoting about a horizontal axis.

It goes without saying that the invention is not restricted tomonolithic glazing. It also encompasses multiple glazing of the doubleglazing type in which the various glass panes are assembled via agas-filled gap using a peripheral gasket, and laminated glazing such asglazing made up of a so-called “inner” pane of soda-lime silica floatglass assembled with another, so-called “outer” pane of the same kind ofglass, via an interlayer of plastic of the polyvinyl butyral type.Multiple glazing may also comprise at least one sheet of glass of thelaminated type.

Of course, the embodiments described hereinabove are not in any waylimiting and may give rise to any desirable modifications withoutthereby departing from the scope of the invention.

1. A mechanical connection device for fixing an element to a frameworkor bearing structure by a fixing or connecting to an adjacent similarelement by a connection, comprising: a first arm and a second arm, afirst end of each arm connects to a fastener configured to bemechanically connected to a respective element, and a second end of boththe first and second arms connects to a same joining piece, wherein thejoining piece comprises a tubular envelope that contains an adjustingmechanism configured to adjust degrees of freedom of the fixing or ofthe connection, wherein the adjusting mechanism is configured to allow,once the device has been mounted, the second end of the second arm to bemoved both in translation and in rotation along its axis orperpendicular to its axis, within fixed limits, wherein the second endof the first arm has an externally threaded portion and the cavity ofthe joining piece is tapped to allow a position of the second end to beadjusted along a longitudinal axis of the second end by screwing,wherein a longitudinal axis of the second end of the first arm issubstantially coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the second end of thesecond arm, and wherein each fastener is housed along a longitudinalaxis of a body of the first end of each arm, the longitudinal axis beingsubstantially perpendicular to a plane of the respective element andeach fastener is adjustable along the longitudinal axis.
 2. Themechanical connection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the firstend of each arm hides a fastener.
 3. The mechanical connection device asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the first end of each arm has an interiorsurface that includes a flat bearing surface configured to contact apart of the fastener connected to the element.
 4. The mechanicalconnection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastener comprisesa threaded portion and the body of each arm comprises a tapped portionthat accommodates the threaded portion of the fastener.
 5. Themechanical connection device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tappedportion comprises a tapped spacer piece fixed to the body of the arm bya screw inserted into the spacer piece at an opposite end to thefastener.
 6. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the body of each arm includes a clip mechanism configured tocollaborate with an exterior surface of the fastener or with a bodymounted on the fastener.
 7. The mechanical connection device as claimedin claim 1, wherein the first end of each arm is configured to come intocontact with the element, if necessary by an interface material.
 8. Themechanical connection device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the firstend of each arm comprises a surface configured to constitute a flatbearing surface for bearing against the element.
 9. The mechanicalconnection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjusting mechanismis configured to at least restrict one degree of freedom or two degreesof freedom of movement, at a same time as definitive adjustment of theposition of the fastener along the corresponding axis is provided ifthis or these degrees of freedom is or are eliminated.
 10. Themechanical connection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the secondend of each arm is engaged in a cavity of the joining piece.
 11. Themechanical connection device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cavityis of a shape configured to allow the second end to slide along itsaxis.
 12. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 10,wherein the cavity is of a suitable shape to allow the second end of thefirst arm some play perpendicular to its axis and the adjustingmechanism comprises at least one adjustable stop configured to limit amagnitude of the play.
 13. The mechanical connection device as claimedin claim 12, wherein the stop is formed by a head of a screw-runner, athreaded shank of which collaborates with a tapped hole made in a bodyof the second end of the first arm.
 14. The mechanical connection deviceas claimed in claim 12, wherein the adjusting mechanism comprises meansfor giving the joining piece a degree of freedom in rotation about anaxis perpendicular to the axis of the second end of the first arm. 15.The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 14, wherein themeans for giving comprises an elastic ring arranged in the joining pieceto be coaxial with the second end of the arm.
 16. The mechanicalconnection device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the joining piece isformed of two assembled parts, configured to move or immobilized onewith respect to the other.
 17. The mechanical connection device asclaimed in claim 1, further comprising a connection piece configured toconnect to the framework or the bearing structure mounted on the tubularenvelope or one arm.
 18. The mechanical connection device as claimed inclaim 17, wherein the connection piece comprises a connecting part forconnecting to a tube or a cable or a stiffener.
 19. The mechanicalconnection device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the connecting part isconfigured to slide along the tube or the cable or the stiffener. 20.The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein thetubular envelope has a connecting part for connecting to a structure,the connecting part incorporating a pivot pin about which the elementcan pivot with respect to the structure.
 21. The mechanical connectiondevice as claimed in claim 20, comprising at least three arms, the firstends of the at least three arms not being aligned.
 22. A wall comprisingat least one fixed or opening element fixed to a structure or aframework by a mechanical connection device as claimed in claim
 1. 23.The wall as claimed in claim 22, wherein the element or elements areprovided at their periphery with at least one gasket of predeterminedsize filling a space between an element and the structure or between anelement and another adjacent element.
 24. The wall as claimed in claim22, wherein the elements are equipped with fasteners connected withdrillings that may or may not pass through the elements.
 25. Themechanical connection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein thelongitudinal axis of the second end of the first arm is maintainedsubstantially coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the second end of thesecond arm when the second end of each arm is connected to the samejoining piece.
 26. A mechanical connection device for fixing a panelelement to a framework or bearing structure by a fixing or forconnecting a panel element to an adjacent similar panel element by aconnection, comprising: at least one arm with a first end connected to afastener mechanically connected to the panel element, and a second endconnected to a joining piece, wherein the joining piece comprises atubular envelope that contains an adjusting mechanism configured toadjust the degrees of freedom of the fixing or of the connection,wherein the second end of the arm is engaged in a cavity of the joiningpiece, said cavity being of a shape configured to allow the second endto be adjusted along a longitudinal axis of the second end, wherein thesecond end of the arm has an externally threaded portion and the cavityof the joining piece is tapped to allow a position of the second end tobe adjusted along its longitudinal axis by screwing, and wherein saidlongitudinal axis of the second end is substantially parallel to theplane of the panel element.
 27. The mechanical connection device asclaimed in claim 26, wherein the first end of the arm hides thefastener.
 28. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 27,wherein the first end of the arm has an interior surface configured toconstitute a flat bearing surface for a part of the fastener connectedto the panel element.
 29. The mechanical connection device as claimed inclaim 27, wherein the fastener is housed in a body of the arm throughthe first end of the arm.
 30. The mechanical connection device asclaimed in claim 29, wherein the fastener comprises a threaded portionand the body of the arm comprises a tapped portion that accommodates thethreaded portion of the fastener.
 31. The mechanical connection deviceas claimed in claim 30, wherein the tapped portion comprises a tappedspacer piece fixed to the body of the arm by screwing, by a screwinserted into the spacer piece at an opposite end to the fastener. 32.The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 29, wherein thebody of each arm comprises a clip mechanism configured to collaboratewith an exterior surface of the fastener or with a body mounted on thefastener.
 33. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 26,wherein the first end of each arm is configured to come into contactwith the panel element, if necessary by an interface material.
 34. Themechanical connection device as claimed in claim 33, wherein the firstend of the arm comprises a surface configured to constitute a flatbearing surface for bearing against the panel element.
 35. Themechanical connection device as claimed in claim 26, wherein theadjusting mechanism is configured to allow, once the device has beenmounted, the second end of the arm to be moved in translation or inrotation along its longitudinal axis or perpendicular to itslongitudinal axis, within the fixed limits, and is configured torestrict, extending so far as to eliminate, one degree of freedom or twodegrees of freedom of the movement, at a same time as definitiveadjustment of the position of the fastener along the corresponding axisis provided if this or these degrees of freedom is or are eliminated.36. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 26, wherein thecavity is of a suitable shape to allow the second end of the arm someplay perpendicular to its longitudinal axis and the adjusting mechanismcomprises at least one adjustable stop configured to limit a magnitudeof the play.
 37. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim36, wherein the stop is formed by a head of a screw-runner, a threadedshank of which collaborates with a tapped hole made in a body of thesecond end of the arm.
 38. The mechanical connection device as claimedin claim 36, wherein the adjusting mechanism comprises means for givingthe joining piece a degree of freedom in rotation about an axisperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second end of the arm. 39.The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 38, wherein themeans for giving comprises an elastic ring arranged in the joining pieceto be coaxial with the second end of the arm.
 40. The mechanicalconnection device as claimed in claim 38, wherein the joining piece isformed of two assembled parts, configured to be moved or immobilized onewith respect to the other.
 41. The mechanical connection device asclaimed in claim 26, further comprising a connection piece configured toconnect to the framework or the bearing structure mounted on the tubularenvelope or one arm.
 42. The mechanical connection device as claimed inclaim 41, wherein the connection piece comprises a connecting part forconnecting to a tube or a cable or a stiffener.
 43. The mechanicalconnection device as claimed in claim 42, wherein the connecting part isconfigured to slide along the tube or the cable or the stiffener. 44.The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 26, comprising anumber of arms each having a first end connected to a fastenermechanically connected to the panel element and a second end connectedto one and the same joining piece.
 45. The mechanical connection deviceas claimed in claim 44, wherein the tubular envelope has a connectingpart for connecting to a structure, the connecting part incorporating apivot pin about which the element can pivot with respect to thestructure.
 46. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 45,comprising at least three arms, the first ends of the at least threearms not being aligned.
 47. A wall comprising at least one fixed oropening panel element fixed to a structure or a framework by amechanical connection device as claimed in claim
 26. 48. The wall asclaimed in claim 47, wherein the panel element or elements are providedat their periphery with at least one gasket of predetermined sizefilling a space between an element and the structure or between anelement and another adjacent element.
 49. The wall as claimed in claim47, wherein the panel elements are equipped with fasteners connectedwith drillings that may or may not pass through the panel elements.